Preview: Suns at Bulls
Two teams experiencing very little success square off when the Phoenix Suns visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Phoenix owns the third-worst record in the NBA and is winless in seven road games while Chicago is just a half-game better after losing its past four contests.
The Suns fell to the Philadelphia 76ers 119-114 on Monday in the opener of a four-game excursion despite receiving 37 points and eight assists from star guard Devin Booker. Phoenix coach Igor Kokoskov decided to mix things up with his team struggling and he started Booker at point guard for the first time this season. Chicago expects to have standout shooting guard Zach LaVine back in the lineup after a one-game absence due to illness. LaVine scored 20 or more points in each of his 14 games before struggling in his last two appearances by averaging 12.5 points on 9-of-31 shooting.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE SUNS (3-13): Center Deandre Ayton had 17 points and nine rebounds in his highly anticipated first matchup with 76ers center Joel Embiid. Ayton was ridiculed on social media by Embiid prior to the season but the rookie showed nothing but respect for the Philadelphia star during the contest and said he viewed the game as a learning situation. "It was fun to finally play against Joel," Ayton told reporters afterward. "The way he used his body, I'm going to use that, steal that. Thank you for teaching me. He put in a lot of work. I have to put in a lot of work, too."
ABOUT THE BULLS (4-13): Chicago's injury woes continue as shooting guard Denzel Valentine will undergo surgery on his left ankle next week and will be sidelined four to six months. Valentine displayed promise by averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 77 games (37 starts) last season but hasn't played this season due to the persistent pain in his ankle. Valentine is one of four key players dealing with injuries as second-year power forward Lauri Markkanen (elbow) has yet to make his season debut while forward Bobby Portis (four games played) and point guard Kris Dunn (one) were both lost in October with knee sprains.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Suns won both of last season's meetings for their first season sweep of the Bulls since 2007-08.
2. Phoenix SF TJ Warren scored 21 against the 76ers for his sixth straight 20-point outing and he is averaging 24.3 points during the stretch.
3. Chicago SF Jabari Parker scored in double digits in 16 of 17 games.
PREDICTION: Bulls 111, Suns 107
Two teams experiencing very little success square off when the Phoenix Suns visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Phoenix owns the third-worst record in the NBA and is winless in seven road games while Chicago is just a half-game better after losing its past four contests.
The Suns fell to the Philadelphia 76ers 119-114 on Monday in the opener of a four-game excursion despite receiving 37 points and eight assists from star guard Devin Booker. Phoenix coach Igor Kokoskov decided to mix things up with his team struggling and he started Booker at point guard for the first time this season. Chicago expects to have standout shooting guard Zach LaVine back in the lineup after a one-game absence due to illness. LaVine scored 20 or more points in each of his 14 games before struggling in his last two appearances by averaging 12.5 points on 9-of-31 shooting.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE SUNS (3-13): Center Deandre Ayton had 17 points and nine rebounds in his highly anticipated first matchup with 76ers center Joel Embiid. Ayton was ridiculed on social media by Embiid prior to the season but the rookie showed nothing but respect for the Philadelphia star during the contest and said he viewed the game as a learning situation. "It was fun to finally play against Joel," Ayton told reporters afterward. "The way he used his body, I'm going to use that, steal that. Thank you for teaching me. He put in a lot of work. I have to put in a lot of work, too."
ABOUT THE BULLS (4-13): Chicago's injury woes continue as shooting guard Denzel Valentine will undergo surgery on his left ankle next week and will be sidelined four to six months. Valentine displayed promise by averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 77 games (37 starts) last season but hasn't played this season due to the persistent pain in his ankle. Valentine is one of four key players dealing with injuries as second-year power forward Lauri Markkanen (elbow) has yet to make his season debut while forward Bobby Portis (four games played) and point guard Kris Dunn (one) were both lost in October with knee sprains.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Suns won both of last season's meetings for their first season sweep of the Bulls since 2007-08.
2. Phoenix SF TJ Warren scored 21 against the 76ers for his sixth straight 20-point outing and he is averaging 24.3 points during the stretch.
3. Chicago SF Jabari Parker scored in double digits in 16 of 17 games.
PREDICTION: Bulls 111, Suns 107